Electric controller of the liquid type



' June 3, 1930. E v. BREEZE 1,762,007

ELECTRIC CONTROLLER OF THE LIQUID TYPE Filed Feb. 26, 1925 5 Sheets-Shee June 3, 1930. v. BREEZE 1,762,007

ELECTRIC CONTROLLER OF THE LIQUID TYPE Filed Feb. 26, 1925 3 Sheets-Shee 2 June 3, 1930. -v. BREEZE 1,762,007

ELECTRIC CONTROLLER OF THE LIQUID TYPE Filed Feb. 26, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3' Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE ELECTRIC CONTROLLER OF THE LIQUID TYPE Application filed February 26, 1925, Serial No.

electrodes are close together-there is a tend-.

ency for the current to flash from one electrode to the other. This has the effect of causing excessive burning of the electrodes and also of tending to destroy the electrolyte container.

The present invention comprises an electric controller having immersed electrodes, wherein the immersing liquid is circulated positively by means of a pump or its equivalent. Means are provided whereby the liquid can be circulated through the space between and around the electrodes and cooled during such circulation.

Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated by the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional view 01": the apparatus provided with external means for cooling the circulating electrode immersion liquid, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus provided with internal means for cooling the circulating electrode immersion liquid, Fig. 3 is'a view of Fig. 2 showing how the pump can be cut out of the circuit, Fig. 4: is a detail view of part of Figure 3 showing how the direction of flow of the liquid can be reversed and Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the valve in the same position as in Fig. 3. I

In these drawings 2 is a tubular vessel or chamber containing the immersing liquid or electrolyte 3 in which are immersed the electrodes a and 5 of smaller diameter than the tubular vessel or chamber 2 so as to leave an annular space between them and the continuously.

11,898, and in Great Britain March 18, 1924.

tubular chamber 2. The upper electrode 5 is mounted on the end of a rod 6 movable along the guides 7 by any suitable operating mechanism so that the distance between the electrodes 4 and 5 can be varied in the usual manner to increase or decrease the length 01 liquid column or distance separating them to effect the desired control.

In Fig. 1 the electrode chamber or vessel 2 is in the form of a vertical tower and is provided with an adjacent cooling chamber 8 provided at its upper portion with an opening9 registering with a similar opening in the electrode vessel 2.

The lower end of the vessel 2 has an inlet 10 communicating with the delivery outlet of a circulating pump 11, such delivery outlet being provided with a valve 12.

The adlacent or cooling chamber 8 is provided with an overflow outlet 13 which is placed by means of a discharge pipe 14 in communication with a cooling sump or reservoir situated at any convenient place.

During the operation of the device the circulating pump 11 forces the liquid through the inlet 10 up through the vessel 2 wherein it passes over both electrodes 4. and 5 and after passing over the latter passes through the opening 9 into the cooling vessel 8. The liquid from the vessel 8 passes down the overflow pipe 13 and through the outlet 14- into a sump into which the suctionpipe of the pump 11 also extends. The valve 12 may be closed when it is desired to stop the pump and retain the immersion liquid in the vessel 2.

The sides of the vessel 2 and of the passage 10 may be made of earthenware or other suitable material.

In the device illustrated by Figs. 2 and 3 the portions corresponding to Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals. In this example the whole of the cooling of the circulating liquid takes place in the vessel 8. Supported in this vessel is a series of cooling tubes 15 of which the ends are fixed in tube plates in the manner of a tubular condenser, opening into chambers or headers 16 one oi which is connected to an inlet 17 while the other is connected to an outlet 18.

These inlets and outlets are connected to the delivery and suction of any suitable pump or device for circulating a cooling medium through the tubes 15.

In this modification of the apparatus the pipes and ll are connected through a by-pass valve l9-to the suction anddelivery inlets of the pump 11, and the plug of the valve is provided with two passages 20 and 21. hen the plug of the valve 19 is turned into the position shown in Fig. 2 the circulating liquid from the pump 11 passes through the plug passage 20 pipe 10 and up around and over the electrodes 4. and 5 in the vessel 2 and then through the opening 9 over and around the tubes in the cooling vessel 8 and then passes through the outlet lel and plug passage 21 to the suction inlet of the circulating pump 11. lVhen the pump 11 is out of action from any cause the plug of the valve 19 is turned through an angle of 90 into the position shown by Figure 3 so as to bring the passages and 21 into such position that the electrode immersion liquid flows from the outlet ll: through the passage 20 to the passage 10 and then through the apparatus returning to the outlet '14 by ordinary thermic circulation. The valve 19 may however be constructed as a reversing one so that by turning the plug thereof the liquid can be circulated in the reverse direction.

An arrangement of valve 19 suitable for this purpose is illustrated in Figures L and Two additional passages 20 and QP-are provided in the plug of the valve. In the position of the valve illustrated 'in Figure l the liquid will be forced by the pump '11 through the passages 20 and 1 into the cooling chamber 8 and said liquid will circulate through the same into and through the chamber :5 into the passages 10 and 21 back tothe pump ll. By turning the valve 19 in a clockwise direction the passage 20 is placed in communication with the passage 10 and the outlet l las shown in liigurc 5 when the pump 11 will be cut out entirely from the circuit, the liquid circulating by ordinary thermie circulation as above described with respect to Figure The valve 19 may also be turned from the'position indicated in Figure 4 in an anti-clockwise direction until the passages 20 and 21 assume the position indicated in Figure 2 when the liquid will be circulated by the pump 11 as described with respect to that figure.

In the device illustrated the lower electrode l is fixed while the position of the upper one 5 can be adjusted vertically, the invention is however, applicable to other types of controllers, such for instance, as apparatus in which the electrodes are mounted horizontally.

It will'be seen fromthe above description that by connecting the ends oi? the tubular chamber 2 by the opening 9 and passage 10 to the upper and lower ends of the liquid vessel 8, that a closed circulation passage is provided through which the whole or the liquid can circulate either by means of the pump 11 or through a bye pass valve 19.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A liquid electric controller comprising a tubular liquid containing electrode chamber, two electrodes, a liquid cooling vessel, means for varying the axial distance between the elcclrodes independently of the level 01 the liquid, a circulating pump having a bye pass valve, the electrodes being mounted in each end of the tubular chamber respectively and the cooling vessel being connected at one end to one end of the tubular chamber and at the other end through the pump or the bye pass valve to the other end o'fthe tubular chamber so as to form a closed liquid circulating passage through which the whole of the liquid will be pumped from the cooling vessel first over one electrode'then axially across the space in the electrode chamber between the electrodes then over the other electrode and then back to the cooling vessel and therethrough to the pump or bye pass valve.

2. A liquid electric controller comprising a tubular liquid containing electrode chan1- ber, two electrodes, a liquid cooling vessel raving cooling tubes, means for varying the axial distance between theelectrodes independently oi? the level of the liquid, a

circulating pump having a bye pass valve the electrodes being mounted in each end of the tubular chamber respectively and the cooling vessel being connected at one end to one end of the tubular chamber and at the other end through the pump or bye pass valve to the other-end oi the tubular chamber so as to form a closed liquid circulating passage through which the whole of the liquid will be pumped from the cooling vessel first over one electrode then axially across the tubular space in the electrode chamber'between the electrodes then over the other electrode and then back to cooling vessel and overthe cooling tubes therein to the pumpor bye pass valve.

A liquid electric controller comprising a tubular liquid containing electrode chamber, two electrodes, a liquid cooling vessel, means for varying the axial distance be tween the electrodes independently of the level ofthe liquid, a circulating pump having a bye-pass valve, the electrodes being mounted vertically one above the other in the tubular chamber and the cooling vessel having near its upper end a lateral opening above the upper electrode and connected to a similar opening in the tubular chamber so that the liquid will rise to the same level in the cooling vessel as in the tubular chamber, the lower end of the cooling vessel being connected to the lower end of the tubular chamber through the means for circulating the liquid.

In Witness whereof I affix my signature.

VICTOR BREEZE. 

